Istock 1424393095 2

FAQs

All IEMA members have free and continual access to our online CPD recording tool, mycareerpath®. Through mycareerpath®, you can plan your development, assess your current competencies, record and update your log of CPD activities in real time, reflect on the value of each activity and monitor your progress at any time. The portal also helps you to gather evidence against the requirements for IEMA professional membership, or any other goal you are working towards.

Please see our list of FAQs

  • How do I apply for membership?

    Go to our website and click on join now, then follow the process to apply

  • Do I have to keep a CPD record?

    Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date CPD record is a mandatory requirement for all IEMA members with a professional grade (Graduate, Associate, Practitioner, Full and Fellow), and those with a Specialist Registration (Auditor, ESOS Lead Assessor, etc.). This is because each member has to demonstrate that they continue to meet the relevant professional standard after initial assessment for their status to remain valid.

    While it is not a requirement for Student and Affiliate members, it is prudent to plan and record all vocational learning, especially if you are aiming to achieve a professional grade in the future, or you are working to meet another career goal. Also, demonstrating a commitment to developing and upholding professional knowledge and competence is part of IEMA's Code of Professional Conduct, which all members must abide by.

    If you are not sure whether you are required to maintain a CPD record, please read IEMA’s CPD Policy for further details.

  • Do I need to log my auditor/EIA/ESOS work to maintain my specialist registration?

    Yes. The Auditor, ESOS and EIA registers are practitioner registers, so you need to demonstrate that you continue to practice in the field to maintain your registration. It is a requirement for members holding registration to submit related CPD each year.

  • How much CPD should I do?

    You should aim to log at least 30 hours’ worth of activities every year to keep your knowledge current and your development on track.

    Be aware that if you have set yourself some particularly challenging goals, then you may need to log more than 30 hours in order to achieve them. Then again there may be times where it’s appropriate to log less than 30 hours, for example if you are taking a career break, are on parental leave, or if you are on long term sick leave. You can discuss this with our team if any of these situations apply to you.

  • What is COD

    Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the structured vocational learning any professional carries out to keep their knowledge, skills and capabilities up to date. It is learning that shapes and boosts our careers and helps maintain competence when laws, regulations, standards and practice change, or your career path alters course.

    Your learning – the CPD activities you undertake each year – can include formal training courses but also many free and easy-to-access opportunities like reading and writing relevant books, reports and articles, webinars, workshops, conferences and site visits, coaching, and anything else which helps you learn and develop.

    Planning, tracking and evidencing your learning is simple yet very important – it helps you set goals, find learning activities that will help you achieve them and keep a record of what you have learned.

  • What counts as CPD?

    Any activity that boosts your knowledge, understanding, range of skills, ability or influence contributes to your CPD. Some examples include:

    • Attending relevant events or conferences or listening to webinars;
    • Structured learning from formal training courses;
    • Informal and self-directed activities such as reading TRANSFORM magazine, journals, books, and other articles;
    • On-the-job learning and practical experience;
    • Supporting others to develop, either through formal or informal coaching and mentoring; Voluntary activities.

    Take a look at the IEMA Benefits Map to find the resources and activities that will help you reach your goals.

  • Why is setting CPD goals important?

    Setting learning and development goals is a crucial part of CPD. It helps you establish what you want to achieve so you can undertake learning that will help you get there.

    When starting your annual CPD plan, you should think about where you are in your career now, and what you want to achieve over the coming year. Are you aiming to upgrade your membership and therefore need to work on some core competencies? Are you planning to take on new responsibilities at work and need to develop some new skills? Which sections of the IEMA Skills Map do you feel you could strengthen? Thinking these type of considerations will help you plot clear and achievable goals, which in turn will guide what CPD activities you need to do and record over the coming year.

    You can also include shorter term objectives, for example, having a chat with your manager about taking on a new responsibility or reading up on some new legislation.